Hosiery package, and method and apparatus for producing the same



June 20, 1961 E. w. PARKER, JR

HOSIERY PACKAGE, AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME FiledOct. 24. 1956 FIG.

INVENTOR E. w. PARKE R,JR.

United States Patent Filed Oct. 24, 1956, Ser. No. 618,112 Claims. (Cl.206'79) This invention relates to a novel hosiery package and also to anovel method for packaging articles in pairs as '(vivell as to apparatuswhereby such packages can be prouced.

. One field wherein the invention has particular utility is inconnection with the packaging of so-called stretc hosiery where, byreason of the unusual nature of the material from which such hosiery areproduced, permanent characteristics of elasticity are obtained and suchhosiery maybe stressed to unusual limits and will return to normalpredetermined size and shape. However, the invention is not limited tothis particular field and may be employed with equal facility inconnection with other articles of wearing apparel, or the like where, byreason of the inherent characteristics of the item, packaging in a flatstate, whether folded or unfolded, is desirable.

Hosiery, generally, is packaged in a flat state. With respect to stretchhosiery, it has been found desirable to package such items in a flat andslightly stressed condition. Modern packaging methods include two formsof such packaging which may be said to. be in relatively widespread use.Each of such forms contemplates the use of comparatively rigid insertsof a size slightly larger than that of the hosiery whereby a flatpackage in slightly stressed condition is produced.

In one of these forms, each sock or stocking is stressed upon a separateinsert and pairs are then secured together. In the other form the firstsock is stressed upon a single insert and the second sock is thenseparately stressed to a slightly greater degree so as to envelop thefirst sock and insert contained therein. Thus, both socks of a pair arepackaged in stressed condition upon a single insert. In both forms ofpackaging, which, as stated hereabove, are typical of present daycommercial practices, the stressed socks with inserts are then foldedalong a median line so as to reduce the length of the completed package.

The commercial advantages where a single insert is employed, referencebeing had to space and weight consider-ations, are too obvious torequire discussion and it is with a novel form of such packaging that wehere are concerned.

Accordingly, it is a major purpose of the present invention to provide anovel package for a complementary pair of articles, such as hosiery orthe like, whereby both socks of a pair will be packagedin flatcondition, one'within the other, and a single insert will be providedwhereby only the outermost sock of the pair will be in stressedcondition.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel method ofpackaging whereby the novel package described hereabove may be producedrapidly and economically without any requirement for skilled labor.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide novel apparatuswhereby the instant process maybe carried out.

Further objects of the invention will .be apparent from the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,wherein:

Patented June 20, 1961 scale taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1, thelayers of material being spaced slightly for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 4, a transverse sectional view, similar to FIG. 3, taken on theline 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5, a diagrammatic elevation of novel apparatus for producing thepresent package, illustrating the initial position thereof;

FIG. 6, a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating the firstsock in position;

FIG. 7, a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating the next position of theapparatus with a sock insert partially positioned;

FIG. 8, a view similar to FIG. 7, illustrating the second sock instressed condition surrounding both insert and first sock;

FIG. 9, a detail sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 10, a detail sectional view taken on the line 10- 10 of FIG. 5.

Briefly stated, the novel package of the present invention comprises afirst sock which, if desired, may be provided with a thin flexibleinsert such as tissue paper or the like, and a second or mating sockmounted in slightly stressed condition upon a rigid insert, the firstsock being arranged or disposed within the second sock in flat conditionand in superposed relationship with respect to the rigid insert.

Such a hosiery package is illustrated particularly in FIG. 2 of thedrawing where the package 10 comprises a first sock 11 disposed inflattened and extended condition with a tissue paper or similar insert12, the sock 10 being superposed upon a rigid insert 13 of cardboard orthe like. The second sock 14 in slightly stressed condition surroundsthe insert 12, fitting snugly thereupon, and envelops the first sock andtissue paper insert thus providing a neat, fiat package of pleasingappearance.

If desired, the package thus described may be folded along a transversemedian line whereby the toe port-ion is brought into proximity with theopen upper extremity and the usual paper rider 15 or the like may beemployed to retain the hosiery package in folded condition asillustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawing. If desired, an additional paperenclosure, bearing suitable advertising matter, may be employed asindicated at 16 to embrace the folded heel portion of the hosiery andthereby provide a more attractive finished package.

The insert 13 may he formed from suitably relatively st-ifi andlight-weight cardboard, or the like, and possesses a conformationresembling that of an extended foot, as well known in this art. Wherethis insert is provided with a rounded extension intended to accommodatethe heel LFIG. 1 .is a plan view-of a pairv of socks packaged inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2, a perspective view of the pair of socks of FIG. 1, prior to thefolding thereof along a transverse median line, parts being broken away;

FIG. 3, a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged of the socks, careis exercised in placing the sock upon the insert to provide for properrelationship. However, such an extension is not essential and hosierymay be packaged satisfactorily in accordance with the present method bylocating the sock heel centrally of the longitudinal edges of theinsert.

Desirably the insert 13 is provided with a transverse and centrallylocated score line 17 to assist in the ready folding of the sock packageto provide the finished article.

There has been illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 10 of the drawing a simpleform of apparatus for producing the novel package of the presentinvention and the steps attendant to the use thereof will be describedin detail hereafter. Y 1' Desirably, such apparatus includes a, frameelement I20. having a fixed bracket indicated at 21 and having a conformation complementary to and slightly greater than that of the insert12. The fixed bracket 21 may comprise a pair of spaced arms 22 and 23 ofidentical conformation fixedly mounted upon the frame element 20;alternatively, the bracket 21 may be of U-shaped transverseconfiguration formed from a suitable blank of material whereby the arms22 and 23 are integrally produced. A longitudinal slot 24 is provided inthe opposed arms 22 and 23 for a purpose to be described more fullyhereafter.

A pivotal lever indicated generally at 25 is mounted upon a pivot 26located in the frame element 20 and extending through the fixedextremities of the bracket 21, the lever 25 being mounted for pivotalmovement into and out of a position between the opposed arms 22 and 23of the fixed arm 21. Desirably, the lever 25 is of slightly greaterlength than the bracket 21 and when positioned between the arms 22 and23 will project therebeyond a slight distance.

The lever 25 is of a configuration complementary to and slightly smallerthan that of the insert 12 and comprises a pair of spaced arms 26 and 27of identical conformation. If desired, the lever 25 may be of U-shapedtransverse conformation and formed from a suitable blank of materialwhereby the arms 26 and 27 will be integrally produced.

A longitudinal slot 28, similar to the slots 24 is provided in theopposed arms 22 and 23 and, if desired, the free extremities of thesearms may be provided with slotted portions 29. Similar portions (notshown) may be provided in the extremities of the arms 22 and 23.

The apparatus thus described is inexpensive and may be used withparticular ease, requiring no skilled labor to operate. In fact, it hasbeen found in practice that an unskilled employee can packageapproximately one hundred and fifty dozen pairs of socks during thenormal working day.

In use, the lever 25 is pivoted upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 5of the drawing and a sheet of tissue paper or the like 12 is positionedbetween the spaced opposed arms 26 and 27 of this lever. A first sock 11is then placed upon the lever as illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawing.

The sock covered lever 25 is then pivoted downwardly to a positionbetween the spaced opposed arms 22 and 23 of the bracket 21, see FIG. 7of the drawing, and the insert 13 of cardboard or the like is placedbetween the arms 22 and 23 in alignment with the sock 11 upon the lever25. The second sock 14 is then placed upon the bracket 21 as shown inFIG. 8 of the drawing.

To remove the socks from the apparatus it is only necessary to placefinger pressure upon the socks through the slots 24 and exert suchpressure in the direction indicated by the arrow 30. Such pressureextends the tip of the insert 12 and toe portion of the second sock 14beyond the outer edges of the arms 22 and 23 whereupon the toe portionsof both socks and the insert may be grasped and the packaged socksillustrated in FIG. 2 may be withdrawn readily from the apparatus.

Following such withdrawal, folding upon the median score line 17 andaffixing suitable riders is a particularly simple matter.

It should be understood that the arms 22 and 23 of the bracket 21 andthe arms 26 and 27 of the lever 25 are formed from relatively thinstainless steel or other suitable material provided with smooth surfaceswhereby any possibility of damage to hosiery is obviated. Thus, evensheer materials may be packaged in the manner described withoutlikelihood of injury. Further, soiling or other damage through excessivehandling during the packaging operations is virtually eliminated.

Where so-called stretc materials are employed, a finished package may beproduced of particularly attractive appearance without adding to thecosts of packaging. Further, instead of placing one sock under givenstress to encompass an insert and stressing the second sock to a greaterdegree to encompass both the first sock and insert therein, only onesock of a package is stressed to the minimum degree required to presentthe desired smooth appearance.

While the present invention has been described in detail for use inconnection with the packaging of hosiery, the invention is by no meanslimited to this particular field but may be used with equal facility inconnection with other types of items produced from suitable flexiblematerials. In this connection, particular reference is had to gloves,undershirts, etc.

There has thus been described a novel package of improved appearance,together with novel apparatus and method for the production thereof,which may be produced with greater economy and ease than heretofore hasbeen known in related arts. Further, skilled labor is required neitherfor the production of the novel apparatus nor for the operation thereof.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in the invention, both as to package and apparatus, withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the'inventionis not limited by that which is shown in the drawing and described inthe specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hosiery package comprising an insert of relatively stitf materialof a conformation corresponding to that of an extended sock, a firstsock in extended unstressed condition superposed upon said insert, and asecond sock in extended stressed condition surrounding said insert andsaid unstressed first sock.

2. A hosiery package as set forth in claim 1 where said first sock has asheet of relatively thin paper therein.

3. A package for a pair of articles of flexible material having apredetermined configuration, said package comprising an insert ofrelatively stifi flat material having a conformation corresponding tosaid predetermined configuration, the first article of said pair inextended unstressed condition superposed upon said insert, and thesecond article of said pair in extended stressed condition surroundingsaid insert and said unstressed first article.

4. A hosiery package comprising an insert of relatively stiff materialof a conformation corresponding to that of an extended sock, a firstsock in unstressed condition superposed upon said insert, and a secondsock in extended stressed condition surrounding said insert and saidunstressed first sock.

5. A hosiery package comprising a pair of socks, a flat insert ofrelatively stiff sheet material of a shape and size corresponding to butsomewhat larger than either of said socks in flat untensioned condition,the first sock of said pair being superposed upon said insert in fiatuntensioned condition, said insert and said superposed first sock beingenclosed within said second sock of said pair so that said second sockis in extended tensioned condition in enveloping relating to said insertand said first sock.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,973,379 Guggenheim Sept. 11, 1934 2,007,621 Struve July 9, 19352,573,827 Bigelow Nov. 6, 1951 2,624,989 'White Jan. 13, 1953 2,696,295Berry Dec. 7, 1954 2,748,930 Power et 'al. June 5, 1956 2,755,924 Tuttleet al July 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 644,296 Germany Apr. 28, 1937

